Method and apparatus for making wheels



Aug; 24-, 1926.

J. H. WAGENHORST METHQD gum APPARmus-FoR MAKING WHEELS Y or iginaL- File'd Jan. 24,: 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug '24 1 926; 1,597,224

J. H. WAGENHO'RST METHOD AND APPARATUS 'FfOR MAKING'WHEELS o rigi'nal F'iLe'd Jan. 24. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 24 1926.

J. H. WAGENHORST METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING WHEELS 4 SheecS -Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 24. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ill r I I l l u I I I l l I l I I ll J. H. WAGENHORST METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING WHEELS Original Filed Jan. 24. 1921 Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. Jar/men. waenxrronsr, on JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING WHEELS.

Application filed January 24, 1921, Serial No. 439,396.

This invention relates to a novel method of, and apparatus for manufacturing wheels and more particularly to the manufacturing of a wheel embodying a sheet metal felly in connection with either wooden ormetallic spokes, and it will be understoodthat this felly may be shaped to receive either an automobile tire or a demountable tire carrying rim. 1 a

The object of the invention is to provide for mechanically expanding the sheet metal felly or fixed rim at definite points, arrang ing the spoke ends inconnection with said felly at said points, bringing saidspokes into a common plane and then permitting the felly or fixed rim to contract to its normal size and shape and place all of the spokes under radial compression. w

With this obj ect in View, and certain others which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter fully described and set forth in the appended claims.

In thedrawings forming a part of this specification, Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of one form ot apparatus for carrylng out my lmproved method, the plungerbeing shown raised and the spokes arranged in their 1n1t1al POSllZlOIl Wltll reference to the telly orfixed r1m; F1g. 2 1s a s1m1lar view showing the plunger lowered and the spokes brought into a-common plane which is their final position with reference to the felly or fixed rim; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan [on the lined-3 of Fig. 1 the spokes being omitted; Fig. 4' is a detailed -view showing in exaggeratedcform the expansion or distortion of the felly or fixed rim; "Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line" 5'5 of Fig. 2' and Fig dis a view of a centralvertical section showing a slight modification.

In" the practical embodiment of my invention'I employ a suitable base or table 10 upon which are arranged expand ng arms or members 11, the lnner ends of -wh1ch arelmiteredv as shown at 11 and the outer ends being shaped at 11 to receive the sheet metal felly or fixed rim 12 thereon, and the outer ends are also provided with guide ribs 13 against which the fellyor'fixedrim contacts and between which the outerends of the spokes let are placed, it being understood that the telly or fixed rim 12 is formed with ing openings or sockets 12 which receive the spoke tenons 1d; The arms or members 11 are intended to slide radially upon the sup the .ing arms or members are forced radially be exerted upon tenon receiv- Renewed November 10, 1925.

port or table 10 and are preferably formed with a clove-tail rib upon the bottom thereof which moves in a dove-tail groove in the table or support 10, and each arm or member 11 is formed at its inner end withadepending portion 15, the upper inner edge of which is beveled as shown at 15.

This beveled portion 15 is intended to be engaged by the beveled 16 which plunger is moved vertically up and down by any suitable mechanism, and at 17 I pressure device for actuating thisplunger.

A collar 18 is attached to the plunger 16 and is adapted to engage the inner and mitered ends of the spokes 1 1 which are initially supported upon a ring 191mm upon a coil spring 20. i

Coil springs 21 are located in the table or base 10 and normally bear against the dedially outwardly a distance corresponding to p1tch of the taper and as these expandoutward radial pressure will the telly 0r fixed rim at those points thereby perceptibly expanding the felly or fixed rim or distorting the same by outwardly at the points where the expanding end 16 of the plunger comes in contactwith the tapered ends of the expanding arms or members said arms or members are forced rahave indicated diagrammatically a fluid I forcing the rim arms or. members contact therewith, and

drawing the rim inwardly to a certain exten between such points, this action being shown in exaggerated form in Fig. 4.

Simultaneously with the expansion or distortion of the rim the spokes are brought from the inclined position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2 or in other words they are brought into the true'wheel plane by thecollar 18 contacting with the inner endsthereof. and forcing the ring 19 downwardly and compressing the spring 20 as most clearly shown inFig; 2.

When the .plunger is. withdrawn" or re} turned to its normal position the wheel can be lifted off of the expanding arms or menr bers inasmuch as thespringsQl will return them to their .normalor innermostpositions the moment: that theplunger ;1v6 1sW1th-- wan" drawn upwardly, and after the Wheel is removed from the machine the coil spring 2Q Will of course returnthe spoke supporting ing the rim of expansion and permitting it 70 .to contract and flfiSlllllfinlts normal condiring 19 to its normal position. and. another rim can be arranged upon'the expanding arms or members andmanother, set or spokes erty of the rim 'Will immediately return said ,fellygor fiXed ,,rimto its normal contracted and circular condition. and thereby placingv V r combination With;,means -;for -:holding ;a; .sh eet metal folly; and; ,suppo ting; a set of spokes heldin such position; all oi Whiclris brought about by anaking the spokes of the proper dimensions and positioning the lsame in the;

arranged for engagement therewith.

It mustube understoodthat the telly. or fixed ,rim,-is expandedi'or distorted at the points where the spokes are brought into one ,gagementWith fsaidui ellyv or fined rim and as soon. as the, expanding pressure. iis relievedthe inher entresiliency and ;cont rac tile prop all or the spokes underuniform iradial. com-7 pression. 5w

In Fig. 6,1 llaVQfillOWIl a slight modification in which an expander block25 having -a tape-redend 2 5?- is arranged centrally Within: the .e xpandingiarms or .members 11 which arms; or members are arranged substantially the same as previously described upon the supporting table or frame and: the fellyw or fixedirim .12- is arranged uponithetouter ends or theiexpanding armsbr members as previously described;- v

The. S Okesupp rting.ring 2 is carried atv the ipper end of the rods 27f whi h Sl de vin openings 28 produced in the expander block25.,;c.oil springs 29 beingyvoundaround therods 27; and tending. to normally main;

tain thenspokesupporting ring- 26 in its ele- 30 is elevated. the,kick-outmember 31 will operate lupon, the expanding member and will flrais'e. the; X same ,so that the -XP2I1ICllDg arms; or. members 211 can return .totheir normalinnermost positions springs 21 serving to a' ccompl ish.,this as previously described."

It xvillthns be seen that. I proyideasimple method or .makinga Wheel embodying a I sheet\ metal flfelly ,or lfined rim and spokes Whichmaybe oi Wood or metal and incase they are of metalzthey may be either solid or. sheet metal as preferred.

By means of theiabove described method -andapparatus- I am ableto quickly and easily, assemble, a {a i vvheel 7 embodying ithese characteristics-andin which theisp-okesavill be brought into ithegtrue Wheel plane and sub-V jectedto the proper, radial, compression While ds {of t se of sp kes i o: e gagemeat With; said J felly at the points; of eigpansionr w telly, and means ior expanding said i fell.

tionl Having thusiclescribeclvmy; inventioinwhat;

1. The method of making-i;ayheelsizwhich 7 --consi;stsin expanding a sheet metal tfelly w at definitepoints and;;eontracting said; felly; at intermediate points, "bringing;,:the -outer and- -then relieving said fellyoi such Xe;; pan;.; S1011; I

2. In a device for making yvheels, they;

with their outer ends injuxtapositionitd said 1 at definite points contraoting said1; telly in- I;

termediate tsaid, points and bringing saith; p k an Wheel .p l fii l lnln Qri l gagen:9

ment {1 th;sai-dvtelly; hile-soexpanded 3. The method oi making vheels vvhich; consists.- in arranging a set pf spokes ith :their v outer ends in juxtaposition .to; a- -shee,t

metal 1 telly; isurroundlng ,the sam condition and then ;relieving-g-s aid= afelly l 7 V such-expansion; {at vated position "The plunger has the same w ai ts in arrang ngua set feta spoke v their-outer-e mls, in juxtaposition to a isheetq me ie y su r un ing: tl3 1 P ;Il W5 r g-sa i e yya po n -sedime t said 1 332 ends, only bringing-said spokesi into a; WlIBQl': plane while-said! telly is so expanded-and a. The method of making yvheelsf'gwhich vwith; 1'

then relieving said-,1 telly-i of such; expansions; a

twl le alhrim may resume its normal. shape and rad ally, compress the lset -of l,

spokes; so positioned.

v xpa slm9 ing: ;.said felly: {radially-1outwardlymt points m V pp ath ie s f th spokes .wo yaa d;

, g ng hespQ sirtea Wh rila eav e 5. i In a 'rnac-hine for g imaking jvvheels :the- 1 m ina iemw m anscf engaging; e p.and n-g 5: at pa e r H a d meansifz rr it nin ;i:- a set oi spokeslu'n V a WhBBl plane, ravith-inathesheet metal rim WhllBgSQ expanded, said ex-u E .=panding means being releasable -vvhereby;the

6; In a machine for making vvheels the 1 combination; with. means er or supporting.

I lnfelly and set-iof; SPOkQSi -With i a their; outer ends in qjuxtaposition to said;

telly and meansaio expandingsaid felly at;

. points-1* adjacent 1 said, spoke5ends 1 only, and;;; bringingsaid: spokes into; a; commonsplane iand -into engagement-avith;said fel'ly Wl1ll.9.w.

- so expanded.

. In a maohinelfor making wheels the;

combination -Witll a E plurality; of expanding members adapted to receive thereon a sheet metal telly and the outer ends of a set of spokes, means for supporting the inner ends of said spokes, and means for expanding said members and bringing said spokes into a common plane While said members are so expanded.

8. In a machine for making Wheels, the combination with a set of expanding members adapted to receive a sheet metal telly at the outer ends thereof, means forexpanding said members, means for supporting a set of spokes With their outer ends in juxtaposition to the sheet metal felly and with their inner ends in a plane outside the plane of said felly and means for moving said innor ends into the plane of the telly While said members are expanded.

9. In a machine for making Wheels, the combination With a suitable support, of a series of expanding members arranged thereon, said expanding members being adapted to receive a sheet metal telly upon their outer ends, a plunger for expanding said members, means for supporting a set of spokes and means operated from said plunger for bringing sald spokes into the plane of the Wheel.

10. In a machine for making Wheels, the combination With a suitable support, of a series of expanding members arranged thereon and having their outer ends circumferentially spaced, said outer ends being adapted to receive thereon a sheet metal telly, means carried at the ends of said expanding members for guiding the outer ends of the spokes, means for supporting the inner ends of said spokes, means for expanding said members and bringing the inner ends of a set of spokes into the plane of the telly.

11. The method of making Wheels, which consists in applying force to expand a circular felly at definite spaced points, bringing the outer ends of the spokes of a spoke set into engagement With said telly at the points of expansion, and then releasing said force.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afix my signature.

JAMES H. WAGENHORST. 

